Capsule Figures
Kotaku reported recently on a new range of Namco x Capcom capsule figurines. Figurines like these aren’t that uncommon. Most major game franchises (Final Fantasy, Mario – even the console systems themselves) have at least one set of capsule toys. Popular franchises like Namco get dozens of sets, released again and again with new poses or outfits. Most capsule toys come from anime series but there is a fair range of gaming related toys.
Capsule machines are pot luck. You insert an amount (from 100 to 300 yen) and turn the knob to make a capsule fall out. Inside is a small plastic figurine which will often require some assembling. They are pretty much worthless biuts of plastic but highly collectable. My housemate once spent 3000 yen trying to get the entire set of Tsubasa Chronicles toys even though she had never seen the series. They toys just looked cute, is all. And because of the pot luck nature of the machines, she had 2 or 3 of each character before finally winning the last one required to complete the collection.
I must admit, I did the same thing for the Ragnarok Online set.
There are some places where you can buy already opened capsules to buy just the figure you’re looking for. But personally, I think it’s a lot more fun to gamble with the machines.
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February 22nd, 2006 at 4:39 pm
My cousin once buy these capsules just to make a collection of these sets.